Bathtub waste and overflow assembly

ABSTRACT

A bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly comprises a fitting-T with at least two telescoping joints that do not require tightening to stop leaks. Telescoping sections are provided in a T-fitting that allow joint type connections with the drain and overflow assemblies. The drain and overflow fittings need only be roughly placed before or after the tub is set down. The joints allow the installer to pull the fittings below into place through the drain and overflow holes in the tub. The finish covers, gaskets, putty, and drain basket can then be installed from above to complete the job.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to plumbing methods and components, and in particular to waste and overflow plumbing for bath tubs.

BACKGROUND

Bathtub waste and overflow assemblies can very often present unique problems to their installers since there is no easy way to access the waste and overflow and related pipe fittings after the tub is set in place and the walls or flooring are sealed. In these situations two approaches are possible. Two installers can work together, with one below the tub to support and adjust the waste and overflow and one above to secure the waste and overflow to the tub; or a single installer can make numerous trips above and below the tub to precisely align and secure the fittings. Both solutions lead to inefficiencies and increased costs. The trouble with conventional fittings and methods is many trial and error attempts are needed to get the piping lengths just right on the waste and overflow. Various kits are sold with compression-fitting type slip joints or with solvent cemented (glued) joints.

The typical slip joint is very easy to use and widely available. These allow an installer to connect various pipes and fittings together be tightening a slip nut thereby compressing a slip joint washer and creating a leak free seal. This method is a common, widely used alternative to solvent cement (glued), soldered or threaded materials. This method can provide a leak free seal since there is very little water pressure on these drain pipes. Typical slip joint washers that accompany brass or plastic waste and overflow assemblies are merely squeezed between the face of one pipe or fitting and the outer circumference of an inner telescoping pipe by the tightening of a slip joint nut. These fittings can be tightened by hand or tool. Often access for tools is limited because fittings can be located above the flooring but below the tub with only a small access hole from below.

Using trial-and-error adjustment methods to get the slip-joints aligned and tightened correctly in a tub wastewater connection are not very practical. The alternative of leaving the slip-joints not fully tightened is also not very desirable because loose joints can leak.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly embodiment of the present invention comprises a fitting-T with at least two telescoping joints that do not require tightening to stop leaks. Telescoping sections are provided in a T-fitting that allow slip-joint type connections with the drain and overflow assemblies. The drain and overflow fittings need only be roughly placed before the tub is set down. The telescoping joints allow the installer to pull the fittings below into place through the drain and overflow holes in the tub. The finish covers, gaskets, putty, and drain basket can then be installed from above to complete the job.

An advantage of the present invention is a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly is provided that allows final adjustments of the drain and overflow extensions from inside the tub after the tub is put in place. In preferred embodiments, no tightening or cinching is required. Cinching refers to any sealing methods that inhibit motion of the telescoping pipes to the point that adjustment can no longer be readily made in accord with the invention herein.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each disclosed embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. Other aspects and example embodiments are provided in the figures and the detailed description that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a bathtub and a side view diagram of a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D are a series of assembly procedure diagrams showing how the bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly of FIG. 1 is installed in a method embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 represents a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly embodiment of the present invention, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral 100. A typical bathtub 102 has a waste drain 104 and an overflow port 106. A waste assembly 108 can slip in-and-out and twist inside a first telescoping section 110 of a waste T-fitting 112. Similarly, an overflow assembly 114 can slip in-and-out and twist inside a second telescoping section 116 of waste T-fitting 112.

Both the waste assembly 108 and overflow assembly 114 require no nuts, clamps, or collars to be tightened in order to maintain water-tight seals within respective telescoping sections 110 and 116. Instead, any number of different acceptable methods can be employed to seal the joint connections. For example, FIG. 1 shows two sets of O-ring seals, 120 and 122, and 124 and 126. In alternate embodiments just one O-ring may be used, and in other embodiments stops may be provided to prevent the telescoping parts from separating. It may be desirable preassemble these at the factory and include extension stops so the installer cannot lose the O-rings by pulling the waste assembly 108 and overflow assembly 114 out of their respective telescoping sections 110 and 116. It may also be useful to pre-charge the spaces between the O-rings and the inner and outer pipes with a kind of stuffing-box grease or slow acting silicone sealant.

Other example ways to implement the joints that can be adapted for use in telescoping sections 110 and 116 are described in various United States patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,686, issued Jun. 12, 1990, to Russell Anderson, Jr., describes a telescoping connector for a fluid coupling assembly. A dual O-ring assembly prevents fluid leakage between the telescoping tubular members. U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,090, issued Sep. 18, 1979, to John Kaufman, Jr., describes an expansion compensating pipe coupling. Expansion rings are provided to improve fluid seal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,232, issued Aug. 18, 1987, to Harry Zimmerman, relates to a pipe slip joint system. Annular slots and O-rings are used to seal a piston cylinder sleeve. Timothy Wood describes a plastic pipe repair fitting with two pistons in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,587, issued Nov. 2, 1999. O-rings and grooves are used in this device too. An accordion-type membrane is used to connect an expansion coupling for plastic pipes by Duane Logsdon in U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,372, issued Sep. 21, 1982. Such has the advantage of not depending on O-ring seals, but the accordion-type membrane would strictly limit any ability to twist around the joint. This extreme may not be necessary where the normal water pressures inside the pipes are near zero. While typical operating pressures of bathtub waste and overflow plumbing is near zero, some cites have building codes that require testing under pressure in new construction or remodels, and in such cases telescoping joints capable of maintaining a seal under the test pressure would be used.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a method embodiment of the present invention, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral 200. The bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly method 200 begins by setting a bathtub 202 in place or beginning by removing the existing tub. A waste drain 204 and overflow port 206 are to be connected to a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly 208. The installer adjusts the position of a drain elbow 210 relative to a telescoping section 212, and an overflow elbow 214 relative to another telescoping section 216. A best guess of the correct positions are used. A section 218 is typically connected to a so-called P-trap or S-trap.

In FIG. 2B, the installer can use finger pressure to manipulate assembly 210 and 214 into their respective tub openings 204 and 206, as in FIG. 2C. In FIG. 2D, a drain basket 220 and rubber gasket are screwed into drain assembly 210 to seal the tub connection at drain port 204. An overflow cover 224 and rubber gasket 226 are similarly fastened to overflow assembly 214 to seal the overflow port 206.

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly with a waste-T having a horizontal telescoping section and a vertical telescoping section for attachment above a drain pipe for a bathtub (although other configurations could be used). A drain assembly is inserted into the horizontal telescoping section and provides for a joint attachment that requires no pipe cinching to complete a water-tight seal between cooperating telescoping members. Cinching refers to any sealing methods that inhibit motion of the telescoping pipes to the point that adjustment can no longer be made in accord with the invention herein. An overflow assembly is inserted into the vertical telescoping section and provides for a joint attachment that requires no pipe cinching to complete a water-tight seal between cooperating telescoping members. Each drain and overflow assembly provides for simple adjustment of its extension and twist by pressure that can be applied by an installer through respective drain and overflow ports in said bathtub. As used herein, vertical means any slope 45 degrees or more above horizontal, and horizontal means any slope less than that.

While the present invention has been described with reference to several particular example embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims. 

1. A bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly, comprising: a waste-T with a horizontal telescoping section and a vertical telescoping section for attachment above a drain pipe for a bathtub; a drain assembly for insertion into said horizontal telescoping section and providing for a joint attachment that requires no pipe cinching to complete a water-tight seal between cooperating telescoping members; and an overflow assembly for insertion into said vertical telescoping section and providing for a joint attachment that requires no pipe cinching to complete a water-tight seal between cooperating telescoping members; wherein, each drain and overflow assembly provides for simple adjustment of its extension and rotation by pressure that can be applied by an installer through respective drain and overflow ports in said bathtub.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: O-ring seals in at least one of the vertical and horizontal telescoping sections providing for a water-tight seal.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: expansion rings in at least one of the vertical and horizontal telescoping sections providing for a water-tight seal.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an accordion-type bellows coupling in at least one of the vertical and horizontal telescoping sections providing for a water-tight seal.
 5. A bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly method, comprising: installing a bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly having: a waste-T with a horizontal telescoping section and a vertical telescoping section for attachment above a drain pipe for a bathtub; a drain assembly for insertion into said horizontal telescoping section and providing for a joint attachment that requires no pipe cinching to complete a water-tight seal between cooperating telescoping members; and an overflow assembly for insertion into said vertical telescoping section and providing for a joint attachment that requires no pipe cinching to complete a water-tight seal between cooperating telescoping members; wherein, each drain and overflow assembly provides for simple adjustment of its extension and rotation by pressure that can be applied by an installer through respective drain and overflow ports in said bathtub; roughly setting the twist and extension of said drain and overflow assembles to suit a bathtub being installed; reaching through drain and overflow ports in said bathtub to manipulate said drain and overflow assembles into position; and attaching a drain and overflow cover plate from inside the bathtub to their respective drain and overflow assemblies behind the bathtub walls in order to seal and finalize the installation. 